DIY Power Bank

In everyday life, people often use gadgets (smartphones, tablets, etc.), but when we go somewhere, we constantly need to charge our phone. This problem will be solved by a Power Bank that can be made in an hour and a half from available components.

Materials and tools

Tools:

• Soldering iron (solder, flux).
  
• Wire cutters.
  
• Stationery knife.
  
• Glue.
  
• Soda.

Materials:

• Frame.
  
• Batteries (18650) - 2 pcs.
  
• Charge controller tp4056.
  
• DC - DC boost converter.
  
• USB (female).
  
• Switch.
  
• Light-emitting diode and a 100 ohm resistor.

Power Bank Scheme

I assembled this Power Bank according to this scheme.

Making a Power Bank with your own hands

The first thing I did was make a battery for the future Power Bank; I made contacts from a copper busbar. Battery capacity is about 2000 mAh.

Next, I connected two batteries in parallel to each other using sections from the busbar, but keep in mind that it is not advisable to solder the batteries, this must be done with a powerful soldering iron and very quickly so that they do not have time to heat up.

When connecting batteries, the voltage on both should be the same (4.2 volts), but it is best to charge them separately and then solder them into a battery.

As a case, I used an old doorbell, from which I had previously removed all the electronics, and I removed unnecessary protruding elements using wire cutters.

Next, I installed the USB in the place where the bell switch was previously built-in, using super glue and soda.

Using the same method, I installed a switch next to the USB.

I soldered the minus of the battery to the minus of the converter; it is advisable to use thick wires, because the currents here will be from 1 to 3 amperes, depending on what you will charge.

In the same way, I soldered the positive wire and connected the switch into the gap.

Next, I set the converter to the desired voltage, this voltage should fluctuate between 5.2 and 5.5 volts. The batteries must be fully charged when setting up.

Using a soldering iron, I made a hole for the charging controller.

I glued the controller itself with super glue and soda, why soda, because glue and soda form a durable polymer.

I will install the batteries using double-sided tape.

I installed the converter next to the controller, and also glued it with glue and soda.

Then I soldered the wires to the output of the converter, and soldered them to the USB on the outer contacts, the contacts that are in the middle, I shorted them together, this is necessary so that the phone does not mistake the Power Bank for a computer and does not charge with a current of 500 mAh.

I soldered the positive wire from the controller to one contact of the switch, and the negative wire to the input of the converter.

From a piece of plastic I cut a diffuser for LED and installed between the switch and usb.


I used green to indicate the operation of the Power Bank. Light-emitting diode, which I glued into the diffuser.

Connect Light-emitting diode You can’t do it directly, because it will burn out instantly, but I connected it through a 100 ohm resistor, using thin wires, connecting it to minus and plus.

For indication, the light is not bad, we can say that it is IDEAL.

For reliability, contacts LED I filled it with hot glue.

Result

Well, that's all, the Power Bank is ready for further use.

The Power Bank itself can be painted or covered with artificial leather, but I did it differently; I covered the body with self-adhesive camouflage tape, which doesn’t look bad at all.